U.S. Tomahawk Missile Shipments to Ukraine Unlikely Due to Limited Supply
WASHINGTON – The United States is unlikely to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to ukraine in the near future,according to four sources cited by Reuters,due to constraints in current stockpiles. The potential delivery of the long-range missiles has been a topic of discussion following a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to U.S. President Donald Trump during a recent private meeting in New York, as reported by The Telegraph.
The U.S. Navy, the primary user of the Tomahawk, has purchased a total of 8,959 missiles since the mid-1980s at an average cost of $1.3 million each. Production rates have fluctuated in recent years,ranging from 55 to 90 missiles annually,with plans to procure 57 in 2026,according to pentagon budget data.
While a direct transfer of Tomahawks appears improbable, the U.S. could explore alternative options, such as providing Ukraine with shorter-range missile systems or authorizing European allies to purchase adn donate long-range weaponry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday evening that providing Tomahawks to Ukraine would represent a hazardous escalation. “It is unachievable to use tomahawks without American military staff participating directly,” Putin stated.
The Tomahawk missile is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile used for land attack. Its advancement began in the 1970s, and it has been deployed in numerous conflicts as its introduction.
